No suspects after disguised voice makes Rochester bomb threat

Wednesday

Oct 17, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Liz Markhlevskayalmark@fosters.com

ROCHESTER ó No suspects have been identified so far in connection to the false bomb threat at Kohlís on Monday night.According to Police Capt. Paul Toussaint, cases such as Mondayís threat, which came to a Kohlís employee through a disguised voice over the phone, can be difficult to solve.The bomb threat came through a telephone call to Kohlís around 5:53 p.m. Monday. A muffled voice told an employee that an explosive device was in the building.The store was already evacuated by the time police arrived to the scene on Monday. Rochester police and N.H. State Police Bomb Squad K9 conducted a search of the premises, and no explosive device was found. The evacuation ended around 8:40 p.m.According to Toussaint, police are now working with a telephone company to try and identify the source of the call. However, he said there is no recording of the threat, and even if the owner of the phone is identified, it is challenging to prove which individual actually made the call.Toussaint said the gender of the caller is unknown at this time.If found, the suspect will likely face the charge of false public alarm, a misdemeanor-level offense.False bomb threats, said Toussaint, are not common at Rochesterís businesses. When these threats do happen, he said, these threats typically occur at schools.Police are asking anyone who may have information that could assist with this investigation to contact Officer Seckendorf at 330-7128. You can also provide information and remain anonymous by calling the Rochester Crime Line at 335-6500 or Text to: CRIMES (274637) Body of Text: TEXT4CASH + your tip. Cash rewards are offered for information that leads to an arrest.